ANALYSIS / Israel is on its way to reoccupying all of the Gaza Strip

[ProgressiveMuslim]

By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent

Tags: hamas, israel, israel news

The way events played out yesterday did not stir the political leadership into thinking of stopping the ground offensive and moving toward a cease-fire. On the contrary, Israel is moving toward a decision to occupy the whole Gaza Strip.

The message yesterday from Jerusalem was that it is impossible to end Operation Cast Lead without an achievement, and if in the next two days there is no satisfactory diplomatic solution, Israel will have to broaden the operation.

"Broadening the operation" could mean moving from house to house as in Operating Defensive Shield in 2002 in the West Bank, aiming to kill or capture as many Hamas fighters as possible. Or it could mean surrounding Gaza City, similar to the way the Egyptian Third Army was cut off in 1973, or like the siege of Beirut in 1982, until Hamas' leaders emerge from their hideouts with their hands up. This could take several weeks.

Political sources are denying reports of a disagreement at the top over the future of the operation, and insist that Ehud Olmert, Ehud Barak and Tzipi Livni are united in their understanding that under the current circumstances Israel should continue until there are diplomatic gains. Other sources say there are problems. Barak believes that rejecting the French offer for a cease-fire last week was a mistake that made Israel miss a good opportunity to end the operation; now he wants to go on. Olmert, according to some reports, is pushing for a broadening of the offensive. Livni is worried that any international developments may grant Hamas legitimacy.

Israel is in a bind. If it pulls out now from Gaza, it will appear to have cut and run at the first sign of trouble in battling Hamas. And if it goes on to a full occupation of the Strip, it may pay a heavy economic and political price without achieving its political goals.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1053122.html

[JuniperLea]

1. This David and Goliath thing isn't going to bode well for them... eom

[Hydra]

2. It looks like they want to occupy to me

So the question is, when does the counter attack suicide bombing start?

[ProgressiveMuslim]

5. Already has.

Hamas: Palestinian fighter blows self up inside Israeli tank
Date: 06 / 01 / 2009 Time: 16:15

Bethlehem – Ma’an – A Palestinian has committed the first suicide bombing in fighting with invading Israeli forces in Gaza, Hamas’ armed forces said on Tuesday.

According to Abu Ubayda, the spokesman of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas fighters managed to lure a group of Israeli soldiers into a building in the town of Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip. While those soldiers clashed with the first group of fighters, another man climbed into an Israeli tank and blew himself up.

The Israeli military did not confirm this account. The military spokesperson's office did say that "Paratrooper forces operating in northern Gaza identified a suicide bomber approaching them in order to detonate himself against the soldiers. The troops fired at the man, causing his suicide belt to detonate. One soldier was lightly wounded in the incident."


http://maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=34675

[opihimoimoi]

3. Both sides hide in Ignorance and Arrogance.....conditions ripe for disaster

Oh well....a die off of small proportions....someday it reach 200,000 dead...maybe 2,000,000. Then everyone will pay attention

[atreides1]

4. I respectfully disagree

Whether it's 200,000 or 2,000,000 it won't matter, because Hamas will be the criminals and Israel will be defending itself.

At least that's the way that "history" will tell it!

[Hydra]

6. History is written by the victors

A DUer correctly pointed out that a nuclear attack on a civilian population is the very definition of a war crime, yet the US is seen as "doing what was necessary" when it did so during WWII.

Israel will be remembered similarly, even if they kill every last Palestinian in their version of "manifest destiny."

[Marrah_G]

7. Only for so long

Once the slaughter of the native Americans was seen in the same sort of light. Most people now know that what was done was wrong. Over time, history becomes more clear. There are many examples since the dawn of mankind.

[Arrowhead2k1]

8. When did they unoccupy it?

Israel still was always occupying Gaza since they were surrounding its borders and enforcing a total blockade this whole time. By UN definition, that's just as good as any occupation.